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Monday, 1 August 2016

355) “Chennai Book Fair - (Part V): (D.Jayakanthan): One of the Six Eminent Tamil Writers on whom a Special Cover was issued by Tamilnadu Postal Circle, Department of Posts, India on 10.06.2016:

355)
“Chennai Book Fair - (Part V): (D.Jayakanthan): One of the Six Eminent Tamil
Writers on whom a Special Cover was
issued by Tamilnadu Postal Circle, Department of Posts, India on 10.06.2016:

During the Chennai Book
Fair, the Tamilnadu Postal Circle released six Special Covers on six eminent
Tamil writers who have made significant contributions to Tamil Literature –
A.K.Chettiar, T.Janakiraman, P.V. Akilandam, D.Jayakanthan, Pudhumaipithan, and
Va.Ramaswamy. All six Covers bear a common special cancellation and were
released at a special function on 10.06.2016.

He was born at Cuddalore and
dropped out of school at an early age, leaving for Madras, where he went in
search of livelihood, performed odd jobs, till he became a compositor in the
Printing Press of the Communist party of India (CPI). He also became a member
of the Communist Party of India and was imbued with the philosophy of the
movement.

He was a writer,
journalist, orator, film-maker, critic and activist. His career spanned six
decades during which period he authored more than 15 Novels, 30 Novelettes, 15
Anthologies comprising over 200 short stories, 20 collections of Essays, two Autobiographies
and made two Films. Four of his works were adapted into films by other
Directors/Film makers.

He won several awards and
honours during his career, including the Sahitya Akademi Award for Tamil
Literature (1972 – for his novel “Sila
Nerangalil Manithargal”. This novel was adapted into a film by
A. Bhim Singh which also won a National Film Award), Soviet Land Nehru Award
(1978), Fellow of Sahitya Akademi (1996), the Jnanpeeth award (2002), the “Padma Bhushan” (2009), which is India’s
third highest civilian honour, the Russian Government’s Order of Friendship
(2011) etc.

He
was only the second Tamil writer to receive the most prestigious Literary Award
in India – the “Jnanpeeth award” – after P.V.Akilandam (Akilan) got it in 1975.

He began writing for
pro-communist magazines and became the top-most writer of the Party.

In 1953, he wrote
his first short story for a Tamil magazine titled “Sowbakiyavathi” whereafter he contributed several short
stories in magazines like “Ananda
Vikatan”, “Kumudam”
and “Dinamani Kadir”.

In 1965, he
co-produced and directed a film “Unnaipol
Oruvan” based on one of his novels which brought out the plight of
slum-dwellers, which he followed up with another film “Yaarukkaga Azhudhaan”. Later, A. Bhim Singh made another
film on his novel “Oru Nadigai Naatakam
Paarkiral” (1977).

He passed away on 08.04.2015
after a brief illness.

His
works:

He charted a new course in
Tamil Literature with his bold and progressive works. His writings essentially
centred on the travails of the downtrodden sections and the challenges that the
expanding urban middle class was faced with in the early years of Independence
when the country was going through a development phase. He used his pen
effectively to highlight social injustices and economic inequality. He wrote
upon several issues that others ignored or feared to raise and provoked
intellectual discussions through his insightful works and characters.

Most of his works centred
around the lives and plight of the lower classes – rickshaw-pullers,
sex-workers and rag-pickers etc.

His Non-fiction works include – “Oru Ilakkiyavaathiyin Arasiyal Anubhavangal” (Political
experiences of a literary person) written in 1974 and “Oru Ilakkiyavaathiyin Kalaiyulaga Anubhavangal” (Experiences
of a literary person in the World of Art”) written in 1980.

A
Special Cover released in his honour by the Tamilnadu Postal Circle, India Post
on 10.06.2016 at Chennai”

The Front of the
Special Cover released to commemorate D. Jayakanthan at the 39th
Edition of the Chennai Book Fair held from 01.06.2016 to 13.06.2016 bears his
photograph.

Besides his photograph is
the cover of one of his popular books.

Below the photograph are
mentioned “CHENNAI” and the date “10.06.2016”.

The Rs.5/- stamp is of the
completion of 50 years of the setting up of the Border Security Force (BSF),
issued in 2015. The Cancellation Stamp is titled “Tamil Writers” (in English)
and “Tamil Lekhak” (in Hindi). The
Cancellation date is “10.06.2016” and is of Chennai GPO.

The Back of the Special
Cover

On the Back of the Special
Cover is mentioned:

“D.Jayakanthan, a prolific
writer with an extraordinary creative skill has written intelligent and
beautifully crafted stories, profoundly human. He touched several issues on the
marginalised society that others ignored or feared and provoked intellectual
discussions through well-chiselled characters. An excellent orator, he is much
sought after for addressing literary conferences. He is the second Tamil writer
to win the Jnanpeeth Award in 2002”.

The Back of the Special
Cover also bears the name of the issuing authority “Chief Postmaster General,
Tamil Nadu Circle Chennai and the approval number: TN/24/2016, as well as the
logo of India Post. Also mentioned is the fact that this Special Cover has been
designed by the South India Philatelists’ Association.

About Me

I am Rajeev Prasad, a retired State Bank of India officer who had been collecting coins in a shoe box without having a serious interest. Only after quitting my job I got the time to take serious interest in developing my coin collection into a hobby. A pity, because I would have had more opportunity to lay my hands on more 'exclusive coins' while in the Bank. Anyway, as they say,better late than never. If you have any views to share with me regarding this blog , please contact me on my email rajeevprasad1208@gmail.com. I also have a twitter account @prasad_rajeev.
I had an opportunity to participate in a Documentary on the life and times of the 25 paise coin titled “Chal Basi Chavanni” (The four anna/twenty five paise coin passes away), aired by STAR NEWS on 29th and 30th June 2011. The programme helped in making many persons hold back onto their “chavannis”, the little round beauties, instead of returning them to Banks .